Winner: New York Rangers

The Rangers also signed free-agent defenseman Matt Gilroy to a one-year, $650,000 deal.

Del Zotto scored 10 goals last year, and he also added 31 assists. He was a restricted free agent, so there was little danger of him signing elsewhere, but the Rangers signed him quickly so he would not miss any training camp time.

Gilroy played with Tampa Bay and Ottawa last year and is expected to compete for a roster spot.

Loser: Carolina Hurricanes

Pither scored 11 goals in the ECHL, and he is not expected to play with the Hurricanes.

Carolina also sent forward Anthony Stewart to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for tough guy Kevin Westgarth. In parts of three seasons with the Kings, Westgarth has scored one goal. He had 105 penalty minutes in 2010-11.

Winner: Los Angeles Kings

It was a minor move, but the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings appear to have improved their status by trading part-time enforcer Kevin Westgarth to the Carolina Hurricanes in return for forward Anthony Stewart and two draft picks (source: TSN.ca).

Stewart is not a highly skilled player, but he has a huge advantage over Westgarth. Stewart has scored 27 goals and 44 assists in 262 career games, and he is also a physical presence.

The Kings also received a fourth-round pick in 2013 and a sixth-round pick in 2014.

Loser: Boston Bruins

The two-time Vezina Trophy-winning goalie had said shortly after the 2011-12 season ended that he did not want to play this year.

Prior to the lockout, general manager Peter Chiarelli had held out hope that an NHL team that needed to get to the $44 million salary cap floor would trade for Thomas, but he no longer thinks that's a realistic possibility.